Napoli and FC Barcelona united with their message: 'STOP WAR'

Moments before kick-off in today’s Europa League game at the Diego Armando Maradona, the message could not have been clearer. Both teams assembled behind a banner bearing just two words: STOP WAR. 

The message is a united condemnation of Russia’s military action against Ukraine. 

This is not the first time that FC Barcelona has performed such a gesture prior to a game of football. Back in 2003, before a game with Racing Santander, the team out wearing white shirts with the words 'Barça for peace’, on that occasion to voice their objection to the war in Iraq, and there was also a banner. 

Taking the knee

Also, and as was the case as the Camp Nou the week before, all 22 players got down on one knee seconds before kick-off in the now widespread gesture against racism in sport and society.